So a front wheel drive gets 30 mpg for $23,000.
A friend of mine just bought an all wheel drive Subaru that gets 33 mpg for $23,000.
Takes $25,000 to get an all wheel drive Cherokee and it sure isn't going to get 33 mpg.

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1st one- 1989 Cherokee Laredo. 12 great years
2nd one- 2001 Cherokee Limited. Got it before they were gone.

But the Suburu isn't gonna do what the Cherokee is doing in that photo.

They ae pretty capable rigs, I wouldnt mind owning one myself. Here is one I just pulled off google, guy says its all stock except the tires and roof rack.

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He's an angel dressed in oilskins; he's a saint in the "Sou'wester,"
He's a pluck as they come, or ever can;
He's a hero born and bred, but it hasn't swelled his head,
For he's just the U.S. Government's hired man.

As a former owner of a Subaru I can tell you the jeep is a way better ride. Subaru translated into Japanese means p.o.s. mine was a tin can, leaked water continuously, and including warranty I paid 7000 in crap that needed to be fixed in 18 months of ownership. Bought brand new and got rid of it 18 months later. On my second jeep now and will own nothing else now.

As a former owner of a Subaru I can tell you the jeep is a way better ride. Subaru translated into Japanese means p.o.s. mine was a tin can, leaked water continuously, and including warranty I paid 7000 in crap that needed to be fixed in 18 months of ownership. Bought brand new and got rid of it 18 months later. On my second jeep now and will own nothing else now.

I had no idea Subaru translated in Japanese meant "p.o.s. mine was a tin can, leaked water continuously, and including warranty I paid 7000 in crap that needed to be fixed in 18 months of ownership"

I don't know that the Cherokee is a direct competitor of any Subaru, but I looked at the brand closely in the last year and they are certainly more capable then the Escape/CRV/Rav4 class vehicles. The Outback, Forester, and Crosstrek all have a solid 8.7" of ground clearance, an always on AWD system that splits power either 50/50 or 60/40 depending on the transmission, and top of the class fuel economy. For people that don't need anything more than good snow capability and occasional light off-road ability, Subaru is a legitimate choice.

So its really a part of the market Jeep wants to be in but so far only offers the Patriot and Compass to. Well see if the new Cherokee fits there as well, but I suspect it will prove to be more capable in some areas and thus not be a direct competitor to Subaru.